Combination sinker and floater device



Dec. 12, 1961 M. c. FOSTER 3,012,359

COMBINATION SINKER AND FLOATER DEVICE Filed July 16. 1959 JNVENTOR. MAX (Al/687W fbsrsk BM Q United States PatentO 3,012,359 COMBINATION SINKER AND FLOATER DEVICE Max Clugston Foster, Minneapolis, Minn. Filed July 16, 1959, Ser. No. 827,473 2 Claims. (Cl. 43-4314) This invention relates to a combination float and sinker device to be used in connection with fishing. There are various types of devices which are a combination float and sinker available which require the addition or removal of some part or parts to modify the device to be adapted for use either as a float or a sinker. It is desirable to have such a device which requires no addition or removal of parts for modification to be adapted for use either as a float or a sinker, but which may be quickly converted by a simple adjustment of some part thereof. It is also desirable to have such a device whereby its capacity as a float may be adjusted quickly from a minimum to a maximum capacity or to any certain desired point therebetween.

It is an object of this invention therefore to provide a combination float and sinker device adapted to be quickly and easily adjusted from its use as a float to its use as a sinker or the reverse.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a combination float and sinker device comprising a houslog and means for forming an air cell of certain dilferent 1' sizes within said housing to adapt said housing for floating purposes and for eliminating said air cell.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide a combination float and sinker device comprising an elongated tubular member having a restricted pas Sage at one end thereof, a plunger in said member having a valve head removably secured thereto, said plunger and valve head being movable longitudinally in said member with said valve head having an airtight engagement with the inner Wall surface of said member, and a freely moving weight of small dimension adjacent said restricted passage to weight said member to have it disposed in a vertical position in use.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention Will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of applicants device in side elevation in operating position as a float;

FIG. 2 is a view of applicants device in side elevation in operating position as a sinker;

FlG. 3 is a view of applicants device in side elevation shown in a submerged condition adapted for use as in connection with trolling;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view taken on line 44 of FIG. 3 as indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a view in longitudinal vertical section taken on line 55 of FIG. 4 as indicated by the arrows; and

FIG. 6 indicates a portion of FIG. 5 shown on an enlarged scale.

Like reference characters are used to indicate identical parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, a body portion 10 of applicants device is shown. Said body portion may take various specific forms and may be formed of various suitable materials. In the embodiment of the invention here disclosed, said body portion is shown formed as an elongated transparent tubular member having a full dimensional opening at one end 11 thereof and having a chamber 12 therein.

Said body portion 10 has a tapered shoulder portion 13 at its other end terminating in an elongated tubular portion 14 having a restricted passage 15 therethrough communicating with said chamber 12. Said passage 15 Patented Dec. 12, 1961 will be of such small size that air may readily pass therethrough, and that air under atmospheric pressure in said chamber 12 will prevent water from entering into said chamber through said passage.

A plunger 17 is provided formed here as a transparent rod and being of substantially greater length than the length of said chamber 12. At the outer end 18 of said rod 17 there is formed a right-angled arm portion 19 forming a handle having an aperture 28 therethrough serving as a guide for the fishing line 22.

At the inner end 24 of said plunger 17 there are formed a pair of longitudinally spaced annular ribs 25. Adapted to be disposed in said chamber 12 is a valve head 28 having a substantially cylindrical body portion 29 and having a tapered inner end 30. Within its other end portion there is formed a circular recess 3-1 having formed therein a pair of longitudinally spaced annular grooves 32. The ribs 25 at the inner end portion 24 of said rod 17 are adapted to be disposed within said grooves 32 of said recess 31. Said piston head 28 Will be formed of a sufficiently resilient material to permit the inner end of said rod 17 to be disposed therein for frictional engagement. There will be a sufficiently tight engagement between said rod 17 and said piston head 28 whereby said rod will be adaptedto move said piston head longitudinally in said chamber 12. As here formed, said pistonhead 23 is shown having a pair of longitudinally spaced annular ribs 33 thereabout adapted to frictionally engage the surface of said chamber 12 to form an airtight seal therewith. Said ribs 33 will be formed of a sufi'iciently resilient material to provide a relatively easy movement of said piston longitudinally in said chamber.

Disposed in said chamber are a pair of freely moving weighted members 35 of small dimension in the form of buckshot for the purpose of providing a weight at one end of said chamber 12.

Although said fishing line 22 may be secured in operating position in various ways, it is of such small dimension that as shown here it is disposed through chamber 12 and passage 15 passing between said piston 28 and surface of chamber 12. Thus there is adequate frictional engagement of said fishing line by said piston so that said line may be adjustably held at any desired position.

in operation, to adapt the applicants device to form a float, said plunger 17 and piston head 23 are drawn outwardly towards said end 11 to form an air cell 16 in said chamber 12 between the inner end of said piston 28 and the restricted end 13 of said portion it The freely moving weights 35 will settle at the restricted end of portion 16 to hold applicants device in vertical position. With reference to FIG. 1, a leader 33 is shown secured to said fishing line 22, and at the outer end of said leader is shown a hook 39 with bait 4t"? thereon.

When it is desired to adapt the applicants device to be used as a sinker, said plunger 17 and piston head 23 are merely moved inwardly longitudinally of said chamber 12 to eliminate the air cell formed in said chamber 12 whereby water will enter into said chamber 12 through the end 11 and will be of sufi'icient weight to submerge applicants device. The weights 35 in said chamber 12 will serve to hold said device in a vertically disposed position.

Said plunger 17 and piston head 28 may be positioned at any certain intermediate position in said chamber 12 for any desired specific purpose. With reference to FIG. 3, there is illustrated applicants device in connection with an artificial lure 42. Where it is desired to troll, as with said artificial lure 42, said plunger 17 and piston head 28 will be adjusted to form an air cell in chamber 12 of just such sufllcient size that when said device is pulled slowly through the water it will be submerged just below the surface thereof. Experience in the use of applicants device will readily enable the operator to accurately determine the size of the air cell to be formed in chamber 12 by movement of rod 17 and piston head 2:8.to adapt said device for any specific desired use.

Thus it is seen that I have formed a very simply constructed and a very simply operated combination float and sinker device wherein by the simple manipulation of the plunger 17 said device may be converted from a float into a sinker or the reverse. Further by an intermediate adjustment said device may be adapted for any particular use, such as being submerged just below the surface of Water, as in trolling. Applicants device has been found to be entirely successful in use.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and pro portions of the parts, without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which, generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: V

l. A combination float and sinker device to beused in connection with a fishing line for fishing purposes having in combination, a unitary open-ended tubular member, a restrictedpassage at one end of said member, a plunger comprising a rod, a resilient piston head carried at the inner end of said rod disposed within said member for an airtight engagement therewith and for longitudinal movement therein, said piston head forming an air chamber With said end having said restricted passage with said restricted passage being of such small size that air may readily pass therethrough but that air under atmospheric pressure in said air chamber will prevent water from entering said chamber through said passage and forming a water chambertin connection with the other end of said member, said chambers being adjustable to certain different relative capacities in accordance with certain different positions of said piston head, an apertured arm at the outer end of said rod at an angle thereto, a fishing line disposed through said apertured arm and'through said member extending between said piston head and the inner side of said member for frictional engagement of said member and said line for positioning said member at certain different points on said line whereby said device is operated as a float or a sinker in accordance with the positionof said piston head'relative to said chambers.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1, said piston head of said plunger having an axial recess at one end thereof and a pair of transverse longitudinally spaced annular grooves within said recess, and said rod at its inner end having a pair of longitudinally'spaced annular ribs disposable within said recess for operative engagement with said piston head.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

